Washing machine fixture



' 27, 1945. L F SHEERlN WASHING MACHINE FIXTURE Filed May 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllllll A iLUI VENTOR .1. F. SHEERIN, 2,370,498

WASHNG MACHINE FIXTURE Filed May z, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. V27, v1945.

ATTO R N EYS IIIIIIII lfllll llllllllrn Feb. 27, 1945. J F4 SHEER'm 2,370,498 l WASHING MACHINE FIXTURE Filed May 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www ATTORNEYSh Feb- 27, 1945- J. F. SHEERIN i WASHING MACHINE FIXTURE Filed May 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO RN EYS Patented Feb. 27,` 1945 UN D Si t 'FFICE WASHING? MACHINE FIXTURE.

J 'ohn F.' Sleerin, Stratfrd Conn. Appxicatiwn.Mayv 31941,.,serial.No. 39.1.6334.

(c1. ss-22) Thisv invention' relatesf-'to washing machines; and more. particularly to. aI combination washing.

machineand sink,-and.hasfor an object. izo-pror and protecting foors and Walls.. It..req,ui1zes.no` heavy' pullingor pushing as is required.in.port-y able machines, and' Withit' no hoses or pumpingI are necessary.

With the foregoing and other objects inview I have devised' the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a` part of. this specification. It is however'. to be under-V stood" that I am not limited tov the specific construction and, arrangement shown, but may em.'- ploy various change'sfand modifications Within the scope of the invention.

lnv these drawings: n

Fig; 1 is' a; top plan View ofthe' unit complete;

Fig. 2 is a partialjfrontelevation' and partial' vertical section' to the rear of" thel front wall;

Fie. 3 is aivertical 'transverseA section su'bst'an l tiall'y on line; 3-3` of Fig. Zanden a larger scale;

Fig. 4fis a horizontal section of' the' drive for the griner substantiallyl in the plane of line. 4 of Fig. 5 is a partial section andpartial elevation of a portion of theI drive forjtl'iewringer; f

Fig'. 6 is a'.I partial elevation and partial section ofthe drive mechanism vfrom the motor to the agitatorand wrir'igertakenv substantially on line iii-6* of Fig. 7;"

l Figi 7 is a partial plan-view andpartial' section ofthe". drive of 'Fig'. (i takensuhstantially on line T-T o1'- Fig. 6`;:

Fig-1.8' isa detailofa portion of the drive to the agitator;

Fig. 9`isv a1A top plan view of the mountingat one' end.' ofthe wringer sh'owingtheupright wall supporting it in'sections';

Fig. 10 is a'v side eleva-tion looking toward the bottom or Fig.. 9 'andv showingthesupportingt Wall iny section;

end elevationxlookings fromthe right of. Figs. 9- andd 10 f Fig.. 12 is an endelevationf. off the upper roller in a; portion; oi. the 'supportingv mea-ns; Y

`Fig,.1'-Z l.is anzelevationtthereof' looking. from the right ofFig. 12v;A

` Fig. 14 is a vertical section. throughthe. upper end portion. of the. agitator showing its .driving connection'. tothe .operating shaft; and.

Fig 15 is. a. transverse., section. substantially Online l5-l.5ofEi'g. 151. v

The -devicecomprises a stationary 'unit tobeV permanently. installed in place4 of. the.' usual sink orI set. tuhsVQandhas incorporated in it. a sink and Washing machineso thata separate `portalole Washing machineislnot required, thus saving space anddoingiaway Withthe' necessity of. shifti'nga portable machine andtheattendant o-bjecf tionsto such 'a machine,v such as injury to oors. `loy. thev rollersor casters and 'the ,useof hoses andl pump forY iilling and.4 draining. It comprises a body l. having upright` walls forming a receptacle 2. comprising .atub'in which is mounted an agi.- tator`3' of. a washingmachine unit for agitatingv or Working' the clothes in the tub 2' in the usual. manner of washing.y clothes in a washing machine. It also comprise-*sja receptacle 4. forming a sink at oneside of'thotub 2 and separated therefrom by an intermediate partition 5 com-l 'orising spaced uprightwalls 6. and T connectedr atA their tops by oppositely inclinedwalls .8. The

top. Wal-lsl 8 arespaced below'the top or rims of Fig. 1l' is a partial vertical section and partial. 55'

the tub 2 and the sink 4-, 'and in the space thus` left over the Wa1ls8 is mounted a Wringer 9 comprisingV1 upper and lower rolls-y Hi and Il. Faucet Irl-sans'A is provided for lsupplying not and cold water to the tuhand the sinlgand this may include separate faucets for each receptacle or a swinging common discharge nozzle I2 for both thehot and coldy waterl and mountedA so that it may be swung todi'scharge into either receptacle. It' isconnectedv bythe usuall piping to the house waterl 'system for both hotand co-ld Water" and controlled byv4 the hot and'cold valves I3 and I4.

Each receptacle 2 and li also has an individual drain 2a; and laf controlledbysuitable Stoppers, not shown, andpermanently'connected'with the usual drain pipes, also "notshown, leading to the sewer' system. Therernay also be provided a soap dish l5. The.' details 'of thek valves and piping are not shown-.as itrnayy comprise the standard construction and' installation. The upright rear wallsof the. unit.indicated at i6 are spacedv from the rear wall I1 of'the room torprovide a space f8 for thisfpipingandto enclose it so that it is 24 and is located to give the desired depth to the' tub or receptacle 2, and may be spaced above the base 20 to provide a compartment 25 to mount the motor 28' and associated mechanism for connecting the motor to the agitator 3 and the wringer 9 for driving them. This motor may be an electric or hydraulic motor, usually an electric motor, and may be mounted in any suitable way such as suspending it from the underside of r the wall 24. The bottom Wall 21 of the sink may be located to give any desired depth to the receptacle 4, and ordinarily is at a higher level than the bottom wall 24 of the tub or washer as usually the sink is of less depth. This provides cabinet space 28 for storing various articles under the wall 21, and may have one or more shelves 29 and be closed by suitable door 30. v

The agitator unit 3 may be of any suitable construction, that shown having a plurality of upright tapered ribs 3| extending laterally from the central housing 32. It is secured at its upper end to an upright shaft 33 running in suitable bearings 34 in an upright shaft housing 35 mount- Y ed on the bottom wall 24. The central housing 32 embraces the shaft housing 35 and has a bearing boss 36.9.1; its lower end on a suitable bearing 31 on the lower end of the housing 35. Secured' to the upper end of the shaft 33 is a head 38 secured to rotate with the shaft by any suitable means, such as a cross pin 39, and it also mightbear on theV upper end of the housing 35. In the periphery of this head are alternate upright ribs and grooves 40 and 4I in alignment with similar ribs and grooves 42 and 43 on'the inner side of the housing132. Between themis a cap 44 having side walls45 on the inner and outer surfaces of which areribs 46 and 41; to seat in the grooves 4I and 43 respectively to thus provide a driving connection between the. head 38 and the housing 32. To disconnect the driving connection this cap may be lifted by a suitable handle 48 to raise the ribsv 46 and 41 above the head` 38, and it may be held in raised position byllight springs 49 to disconnect the drive from the shaft to the housing. The ribs andgrooves may be tapered slightly so that when the cap 44 is in the lower or driving position there is a binding action which will retain the cap in the lower or driving position. Stop screws 50 may project inwardly through the side walls of the Ahousing 32 and extend inwardly under the overhanging wall of the head 38 so that the housing 32 and v the agitator will not be lifted when the capv 34 is lifted. f

The operating shaft 33 may be mounted at its lower end in a suitable thrust and side-:bearing l, and immediatelyv above this is anoifset as shown at 52 to form a crank embracedvby the bearing head 53 of a link54 pivoted at 55`to the crank pin 0f a worm gear 56 meshingwith the worm 51 on a shaft 58 connected through a suitableflexible joint 59 to the drive shaft 6D of the motor 28. gear 58 acting through the crank 55 and link 54 It will be seen that rotation of the' connected to the crank 52, will oscillate the shaft 33 and the agitator 3 to perform the stirring and agitating operation of washing the clothes in the tub or receptacle 2. The gears 53 and 51 together mounted in bearing 68 carried inthe housing 69 embracing the gears and the lower end of the `shaft, and this housing may also be suspended by any suitablermeans, such as the screws 10,

y from an extension of the bottom wall 24. This shaft extends upwardly through a suitable bushing 1I which may have bearings for the shaft and extends through a side wall12 projecting forwardly from the wall 13 at the front edges of the dividing walls Gand 1 in the upper part of the space between this wall and the front wall 14 Above this wall 12 andin the space between the walls 13 and 14 is a sort of housing lor bracket member 15 having'an upwardly extending rear wall 16 and top and bottom walls 11 and 18, The upper end of the sleeve 1I may extend through the wall 18, and the upper end of the shaft mounted in the bearing 19 in the top wall 11, which top wall may close the top of the space between the walls 13 and 14.

The rollers l0 and Il of the wringer 9 extend between the portions of wall 13 and rear wall IB above the top Wall 8 of the division between the tub receptacle 2 and the sink receptacle 4. The rollers are mounted at their opposite ends in suitable bearings 88 and 8| in suitable upright bearing housings 82 secured to the inner surfaces of these portions of the walls l5 and 13 by any suitable means, such as the screws 83. There are two of these upright .housings 82 at each end of the wringer rolls and on opposite sides'of the bearings and 8l which may be of wood or other suitable material. The lower bearing 8l is sta. tionary but the' upper bearing 80 is slidable up and down between the housings 82 for adjustment and also to permit yielding of the vupper roller I9 upwardly as various thicknesses of clothes pass between the rollers.

Means is provided for putting spring pressure on the upper roll. Thus at the top of each housing 82 is a hook 84 having a recess 85 in its inner side wall to receive a lug 86 on a flattened handle or lever 81, there being two of these lugs 88 on each lever to engage in the recesses 85, and they are located on opposite sides of a central tongue 88 in which is supported a loop 89 having sides embracing the bearing block 80 and located in vertical grooves 99 in the sides of this block so as to retain the block in the loop. Each of the hooks 84 forms the head of a depending bolt 9i, and the anges 92 on these heads rest on the tops of the housings 82 to limit downward movement of the bolts and these heads. Embracing each bolt within the housing is a strong coil spring 93 reacting against the top wall vof the housing and a nut 94 threaded on the bolt. By adjusting this nut the tension of the spring may be adjusted. When the wringer is notbeing'used the lever 81 is in the horizontal position'of Figs.

3; 9 and 10 on top of the roll I0 so that it does'y including the receptacles 2 andi 4, may beffcov# ered ai'idiclosedwith a suitablel cover, not' shown, which' mayV be placed in position.- This cover may be hinged, or a separatecover may beV placed overl the devica'and when',i`n position forms'a shelf"y or table` for various operations in the kitchen; or, if preferred', individual hinged covers may beprovided for each receptacle! and 4.

If it is desired to use the wringer for wringing clothes the free end of the lever 81 is raised, and the whole lever is pushed downward slightly against the action of the springs 93 to insert the lugs 86 inthe recesses 85, the whole lever being shifted outwardly somewhat to permit this and corresponding movement of the loop 89 being permitted by the tapered groove 90 as shown in Fig. 13. Then as the lever 81 is swung toward the upright dotted position of Fig. 10, the looped end of tongue 88 will move down into the notch 9B in the top of the bearing block 80, and then as the movement of the lever is continued to the upright position'the toggle action or leverage between thetongue 88 andlugs 8S will raise the hooks or heads 84 a short distance compressing the springs 93, and thus putting pressure on the upper roller l which will give the desired pressure for the wringing operation, and will also permit the roller to yield upwardly as Arequired when clothes are fed between the rolls. Should the operator catch her fingers in the rolls a lateral blow on the upright 81 will cause it to ima mediately swing to the horizontal or releasing position to thus release the pressure on the rolls and thus permit the upper roll to move upwardly and release the hand or fingers so they are not injured.

As shown in Fig. 3 the shaft of the lower roll is extended as shown at 91 through the wall 16, and secured to it is a beveled gear 98. Splined to the shaft 61 so as to be driven by the shaft but slidable on it are two beveled gears 99 and |00 connected by va sleeve |0I slidable on the shaft. Gear 99 is below the gear 98 while the gear |00 is above it, and it will be seen that if the shaft 61 is driven in one direction, when the gear 99 is in mesh with gear 98 the wringer roll Il will be driven in one direction, and when the gear |00 is in mesh with the gear 98, the roll will be driven in the other direction. The sleeve |0I is provided with trunnions |02 each mounted in an elongated slot in the arms of the fork v|03 of a lever |04 pivoted at |05 and having a handle |06 projecting through and from the front of the wall 14. When in the intermediate or full line position of Fig. 3 both gears 99 and |00 are out of mesh with the gear 98, and therefore the wringer is not being driven. By pushing downwardly on the handle I IJG to the dotted line position gear 99 is brought into mesh with gear 98, and the wringer roller is driven in one direction, but by lifting up on the handle |06 gear 99 is moved out of mesh stalled vir-itirtiie watersuppi'y and drain pipes in with the gear 98, and gear |00 may be brought into mesh with it to drive the Wringer roll in the opposite direction. This arrangement thus provides a reversing drive mechanism for the wringer rolls. The lever |04 may be held in the intermediate non-driving position or in the upper and lower driving positions by a spring pressed ball |01 seating in suitably spaced recesses in the side of the lever.

It will thus be seen that in this device the washing machine and sink together with the wringer and operating mechanism are all assembled in a single unit or fixture which is permanently inplacent' the usual sinkvor set tubs; and that the sink cavity or yreceptacle forms the rinsingr'eceptaoleoperating in conjunction with the mechanical 'washer' to receive the-.clothes as they pass through the wringer'from'the washing section and in which the-clothes may be rinsed or otherwise treated, and then if desired be passed back 'through the wringer tothe washing receptacle for further washing or other operations if desired. The inclined walls 8 under the wringer drain the i water from the wringer back vinto the respective receptacles. Also the complete mechanism is entirely enclosed in the unit where it is protected and out of sight, and the sink may be used for any of its usual purposes as desired. It will thus be seen that this does away with the necessity of a separate portable washing machine, giving one less unit'to be stored in the kitchen and making available the corresponding extra space. It thus saves space-in the kitchen and prevents injury to the oors incident to rolling on it a heavy washing machine unit, and also prevents injury to walls caused by pushing a heavy unit against them. It also saves the operator from the necessity of pulling or pushing a heavy machine, and eliminates the necessity of using hoses for filling and emptying operations as the faucet arrangement supplies water directly to either receptacle and each receptacle has its own individual drain. Therefore no pumping is necessary for drainin or other purposes.

Having th-us set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. A washing machine unit comprising an integral one piece body having walls forming a tub and sink separated by a dividing partition formed of two laterally spaced walls and a connecting top wall, said tub being of greater depth than the sink and the dividing partition extending above the bottom of the sink but of less height than the sink, an agitator for clothes in the tub, a wringer mounted over the dividing partition, a motor mounted in the unit, and driving connections from the motor to the agitator and the wringer, the connection to the wringer being located in the partition.

2. A washing machine unit comprising integral side and bottom walls providing a receptacle forming a tub and another receptacle of less depth forming a sink, a separating means between the receptacles comprising upright spaced walls integral with the rst walls forming a side wall of each receptacle and a top wall connecting said spaced walls inclined downwardly at least in one direction to4 drain to one of the receptacles, an agitator for clothes in the tub, a wringer mounted over said top wall, a motor beneath the bottom walls and driving connections from the motor to the agitator, a driving connection from the motor to the wringer located between the walls of the separating means, faucet means for supplying water to the tub and sink, and outlet drains leading from the receptacles.

3. A washing fixture comprising integral side and bottom walls providing receptacles forming a.-

,nections from the motor tothe agitator and to said wringer, the connection to the wringer being located between the walls of the separating means. n

4. A washing fixture comprising integral side and bottom walls providing receptacles forming 5 a tub and a sink, an agitator in the tub, a separating means between the receptacles comprising upright laterally spaced walls integral with the rst walls and a, top wall connecting them spaced 

